Sightseers Defend Against Attempted Mugging

Two adults, who were enjoying the rare appearance of a blue moon along the banks of the Mississippi River, won’t be charged in the death of a teen who attempted to rob them near a World War I monument in St. Paul, Minn. The incident occurred after a man and a woman—who met near the river bluffs, where they both had gone to see the moon—had struck up a conversation. As they were talking, a teen approached and asked to use a cell phone. Moments later, another teen—this one wearing a mask and gloves—appeared, pulled a gun and demanded their valuables. The male victim, who has a Right-to-Carry permit, instead drew his gun and shot the suspect. The other teen ran away. The female victim called 911 while the armed citizen rendered first aid, but the wounded suspect died at the scene. Investigators have since arrested and charged several teens, one of whom was allegedly involved in the night attack and others who were allegedly accomplices in crimes the dead teen committed earlier in the day. (St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn., 8/4/15)

Attempted Carjacking Thwarted By Good Samaritan

Two women and two children were lucky an armed citizen was around when a man tried to carjack them at a Sunoco gas station. The first victim had just made a purchase and was getting back into her car when the suspect opened her door and started yelling and trying to pull her out of the vehicle. The woman fought back and yelled for someone to call 911. The suspect then walked to the street, where traffic was stopped. He stood in front of a car, which had a woman and two children in it, yelling, “Help, help, someone is trying to kill me.” The suspect opened the driver’s door and pulled the women out by her hair. The automobile, with the children still inside, lurched forward and rolled until it struck a gasoline pump island. The commotion got the attention of a passerby, who pulled his licensed handgun and held the suspect at gunpoint. The accused carjacker faces multiple charges. (Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 10/6/15)

Armed Church Member Saves Woman In Parking Lot

A church employee with a Right-to-Carry permit used his gun to scare off an attacker near the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Boulder, Colo. A female parishioner was in the parking lot when her estranged husband confronted her with a knife and threatened to slit her throat. A church employee, who was walking to his car at the time, witnessed the assault. He pulled out his handgun and told the man to leave the woman alone. The estranged husband fled, but was later captured by police and faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and felony menacing. The woman was taken to a hospital and treated for an abdominal stab wound. No charges will be brought against the armed citizen. (The Denver Post, Denver, Colo., 8/2/15)